Short Summary

Algerian President Houari Boumedienne opened his country's first National Youth Conference at the Palace des Nations in Algiers on Monday (19 May).

Description

Algerian President Houari Boumedienne opened his country's first National Youth Conference at the Palace des Nations in Algiers on Monday (19 May).

The Congress is aimed at producing a Youth Charter under which a new regional umbrella organisation will be created to co-ordinate and direct the work of Algeria's many active youth groups. The new body will also be able to propose legislation to the Government.

With 60 per cent of its population under the age of 20, and one of the world's highest population growth rates, the move to mobilise Algeria's youth more efficiently has been actively promoted by President Boumedienne himself.

However, the road to the congress hall has not been smooth.

Demonstrations and fighting broke out at some universities during the country-wide elections for the 1,000 conference delegates. One group that occupied the Law Faculty at the University of Algiers claimed the delegates had not been democratically elected.

The eligibility for election had been subject to having taken part in one of two "Volontariat" campaigns last year when youth brigades spent their holidays in the countryside instructing peasant farmers in revolutionary agrarian reform and helping in the fields.

The dissidents claimed this excluded all but the Communist faction of the country's only political party, the National Liberation Front (FLN).